Former Middle School Teacher Signs Plea for Sexual Misconduct
Posted
Craig Brosman-
A former Edgewood Middle School teacher who had a relationship with a former student agreed to a plea deal Wednesday morning.
Tyler J. Baatz, 26, Warsaw, agreed to plead guilty to one count of sexual misconduct with a minor, a Class B felony. In return for his plea the other count, child solicitation, would be dismissed. Additionally, the state agreed to seek no further charges.
On Oct. 22, Baatz was in Kosciusko County Superior Court I for a pre-trial conference with Judge Duane Huffer when he decided to accept the plea.
On Aug. 21, Baatz was arrested for an inappropriate relationship with a former student and has since been terminated as an employee of the Warsaw Community School Corp.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Baatz had texted and seen the former student on multiple occasions in and out of school.
The probable cause affidavit states that during summer school, the student would go to Baatz’s room and they would hug and kiss.
On another occasion, the probable cause affidavit states, the girl went to Baatz’s apartment at 415 N. Parker St., Warsaw, and he fondled her and touched her inappropriately.
Baatz was a fourth-year language arts teacher at Edgewood Middle School and a girls basketball coach.
Baatz’s bond was set at $20,000 and he has since bonded out.
Baatz’s lawyer in the action is J. Michael Loomis, of Loomis Law Office, Fort Wayne.
